Child seats in licensed vehicles

It is not always possible for the correct child seat or booster to be available in a licensed vehicle. In the case of private hire bookings, the hirer is advised to clarify at the time of making the booking whether suitable child seats will be available in the vehicle. 

The Highway Code, road safety and vehicle rules allow children to travel in hackney carriages or private hire vehicles without using a suitable car seat, but the following restrictions apply:

• Under 3's may travel unrestrained, but in the rear only
• Those 3 years and above must use an adult belt in the rear seat only
• A child up to 135cms in a front seat of any vehicle must use the correct child seat or booster
• The driver of the vehicle is responsible for seat belt wearing by children under 14 years (except in vehicles with fixed partitions)
• Rear-facing baby seats must not be used in a seat protected by a frontal air bag unless the airbag has been deactivated manually or automatically
• Drivers are expected to comply with the highway code requirements and where passengers refuse to comply with seat belt requirements this is a legitimate reason for the driver to refuse to carry the passenger